Aerial tramway



March 23, 1937. c, c BEATTY ET AL 2,074,953

AERIAL TRAMWAY\ Filed Aug. 14, 193 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 CLfl/EE C 55477)and ELMEE J. LLOYD c. c. BEATTY ET AL a 2,074,953

AERIAL TRAMWAY March 23, 1937.

Filed Aug. 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 23, 1937. BEATTY ET AL2,074,953

AERI AL TRAMWAY Filed Aug. 14, 1954 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CLFi/EE C.BEFIT'T-Y and ELMEE J. LLOYD.

March 23, 1937. c. BEAT' I'Y ET Al. 1 2,074,953

AERIAL TRAMWAY Filed Aug. 14, 1954 4 Sheets Sheet 4 172087650715.-CLfl/EE C. BEfiTTY and ELMEE J LLOYD.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE AERIAL TRAMWAY NewJersey Application August 14, 1934, Serial No. 739,831

1 Claim.

This invention relates to aerial tramways, and more particularly tothose employing a continuous overhead trackway and an endless tramwaycable having a plurality of carriages attached 5 thereto atspacedintervals.

Aerial tramways of the class described are made to extend over aconsiderable length and are provided with one or more unloadingstations, together with a loading station on a siding which deviatesfrom the endless continuously driven tramway cable. The variouscarriages attached to the cable have carriers pivotally attachedthereto. As the carriages approach the incoming tracks of the siding ofthe loading station,

the connectionof the carriage with the endless tramway cable is brokenand it moves by gravity over a graded track to the loading station,where it is detained, loaded, and released, after which it moves bygravity over the outgoing track of the loading station and back to aposition adjacent the cable to which it is automatically attached.

A tramway of this type is disclosed in United States Patent No.1,760,077, to Morrison, dated May 27, 1930, together with the specificmanner in whichthe carriages are connected and disconnected to theendless tramway cable, and is used in combination with a noveldispatcher or bucket spacing mechanism arranged at the loading station,where the material to be conveyed is loaded into the carriers from anadjacent storage bin. While generally efficient in operation, aerialtramways of this type present numerous difiiculties which give rise to aconsiderable waste of time and money, if extreme vigilance is notmaintained over the conveyer and other equipment at the loading station.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a novel aerialtramway having means for automatically detaining a carriage at theleading station, automatically actuated means for initiating theoperation of the loading conveyer, and automatically actuated means forstopping said loading conveyer and permitting the carriage to move bygravity from the loading 49 station and back to the tramway cable.

Anotherobject is the provision of a novel aerial tramway of the typedescribed having means for automatically closing the discharge doors ofthe 5 various carriers as they are brought into position adjacent theloading conveyer, together with automatically actuated means fordetecting the possible failure of the door closing means anddiscontinuing the operation of the loading 55 conveyer.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent after referring tothe drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of part of the novel apparatus of the inventiontogether with the conveyer to which it is applied. 5

Figure 2 is a side elevation of part of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram for operating the electrical devices forthe apparatus of Figures 1, 10 2 and 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates acontinuously driven tramway conveyer cable extending over acomparatively long distance and having detachably connected thereto aplurality of conveyer carriages. An overhead track I is made toadjacently parallel the greater portion of the continuously driven cableA, and is provided with a deviating portion in order that a loadingstation 20 may be established. That portion of the track which deviatesfrom the cable to the loading station is indicated at l while theoutgoing track from the loading station back to the tramway cable isindicated at l 25 The track I is suitably graded, in order that thevarious carriages may be automatically detached prior to traveling overthe incoming track l of the loading station, and be permitted to move bygravity'down the outgoing track l and become automatically attached tothe cable A, as described in the Morrison patent previously mentioned.Conventional types of graded rails and braking devices may be used, butas such form no part of the present invention, and accordingly 35 areneither shown nor described.

Each of the various carriages 2 pivotally supports a carrier 3 which isprovided with a discharge door 4. Each of the discharge doors 4 has alatch bar 5 which is pivoted at 6. The latch bars 5 are each providedwith a roller 1 on one of their ends which is utilized to automaticallytrip the latch bar and permit the discharge door to open at a suitableunloading station. A pair of latches 3 cooperate with each of the latchbars 5 to hold the doors 4 in closed position.

A tripper shoe 9 is secured to the upper portion of each of thecarriages 2, and a bumper l0 mounted on each of their ends.

The incoming track l and outgoing track l forming the loading siding,are separated in such manner as to provide a substantial openingtherebetween. A pair of supporting structures l5 are provided oneadjacent the end of 55 its mid-portion, as at 46.

each of the tracks I and l and each supports a cage I6 in which a springI! is mounted. The

springs I! may be adjusted to varying degrees of compression by means ofadjusting screws I8.

A short track section I9 is disposed in the opening between the tracksand l and provided with a pressure plate adjacent each of its ends whichis adapted to make contact with one of the cages I6 for the springs IT.A pair 10 of hoods 2| are provided for spanning the spaces between thetracks I and. I and the ends of the track section I9, one being securedto the end of the incoming rail I and adapted to pivot in such manner asto constantly engage one end 13 of the track section I9, while the otherhood 2| is pivoted to the other end of the track section l9 and adaptedfor constant engagement with the end of the outgoing rail l of theloading station.

:30 A suitable foundation 22 is disposed adjacent the spring-mountedtrack section I9, and supports a storage bin 23 having a discharge chute24. A pair of shafts 25 and 21 are suitably journaled in the storage bin23 and discharge chute 24, respectively, and each provided with a roll28, around and between which an apron type conveyer belt 29 is mounted.A pulley 30 is secured to the shaft 21 and receives rotation from amotor 3|, through a gear reduction unit 32,

39 pulley 33, and a connecting belt 34.

An adjustable plunger is secured to the spring-mounted track section |9in such manner as to be disposed over a push-button switch 36 which ismounted between the supports I5, and

35 serves to discontinue the operation of the motor 3| for the aprontype conveyer belt 29 when the spring-mounted track section I9 issuificiently depressed from the increasing weight in the carrier 3.

In order to assure the seating of the latch bar 5 in the latches 8, oneach of the carriers 3, and accordingly completely close and fastentheir doors 4, a pair of blocks 31 and 38 are disposed beneath thespring-mounted track section I9. A

plate 39 is provided with a diagonally upward extending portion 40,having a flattened extremity 4|, and pivoted to the block 38, as at 42.Counterweights 43 are disposed on the end of the plate 39 which isremote from the diagonally 0 upward extending portion 40 and adjacentthe block 31 upon which it rests.

As each of the carriers 2 moves from the incoming track of the loadingstation and onto the spring-mounted track section I9, the bottom of itscarrier 3 will engage the diagonally upward extending portion 40 of theplate 39 and rock it about the pivot 42. The carriage 2 is stopped onthe spring-mounted track section I9, in a manner to be later described,and the carrier 0 3 will swing about its pivotal mounting on thecarriage and make contact with the flattened extension 4| of thediagonally upward extension 40, which has been moved back into itsinitial position by the counterweights 43. The impact 65 of the door 4of the carrier against the plate 39 will force the latch bar 5 to seatin the latches 8, if for some reason it has not done so previously.However, to completely provide against the operation of the motor 3|,for driving the apron type 70 conveyer belt 29, if the impact of thedoor 4 against the flattened extension 4| of the plate 39 fails tocompletely close and fasten the same, a table 45 is disposed directlybeneath the springmounted track section I9 and pivoted adjacent A tray41 is mounted on the end of the table 45 which is beneath the flattenedextension 4| of the plate 39, and counterweights 48 disposed on theother end thereof. A spacer block 49 is disposed beneath thecounterweighted end of the table 45 to main tain it in substantiallyhorizontal position. A switch 5| is disposed beneath the end of thetable 45 on which the tray 41 is mounted.

If, for any reason, the discharge doors of any of the carriers 3 fail toclose themselves by impact against the extension of the tilting plate39, and the motor 3| for driving the apron type conveyer belt 29-continues to operate and discharge material into the carrier, it willspill through the open door 4 and be deposited in the tray 41, whichwill soon cause the counterweights 48 to be overbalanced and the plate45 to be depressed in such manner as to cause the push-button 5| toimmediately break the circuit to the motor, and thus discontinue theoperation thereof.

A superstructure is arranged over the springmounted track section IIIand adapted to supporta dispatcher or bucket spacing mechanism of thetype of the Morrison patent referred to. This dispatcher is in generalcarried by a pair of horizontally disposed rods 6|. A housing 62 ismounted on the substantial mid-portions of the rods 6| and provided withan extension 63. A spring 64 is mounted on each end of the rods 6| andbetween the sides of the housing 62 and the supporting superstructure.The housing 62 is apertured adjacent each of its ends as at 65, and.each aperture provided with a shaft extending therethrough, as at IiIi'and 66'. A walking beam 61 is pivoted on the upper extremity of thevertical extension 63 of the housing 62 and provided with an extension68. The rods 66 and 66 are pivotally connected, as at 69, to the walkingbean 61. A thrustor motor 10 is mounted on the superstructure 60adjacent the shaft 66 and provided with a rod H which is adapted to beextended upon the energization thereof. The rod II is pivotallyconnected to the extension 68 of the walking beam 61, as shown at 12.

The walking beam extension 68 is suitably weighted to provide suflicientresistance to cause the rod H of the thrustor motor 10 to return to itsnormal position. A rod or hand rope 13 is connected to the extension 68,as shown at 14, to enable the dispatcher to be operated manually in anemergency. A switch 15 is mounted on the housing 62 and provided with aswitch arm 16 which is adapted to engage the tripper shoes 9 on thevarious carriages 2. The function of this switch 15 is to initiate theoperation of the motor 3| for the loading conveyer.

An arm 18 is pivoted, as at 11, to the bottom of the housing 62 for thepurpose of checking the rebound set up by the bumpers I0 on thecarriages 2.

Referring to Figure 4, there is disclosed a diagrammatic layout ofelectrical adjuncts for the various devices of the invention.

In operation, a carrier 2 is disengaged from the continuously driventramway cable A, progresses by gravity over the incoming track I of theloading station, and moves onto the springmounted track section I9. Onthe track section i9 it engages the shaft 66 in the housing 62, whichhas been so positioned by the weighted extension 68. At the same time,the tripper shoe 9, attached to the upper portion of the carriage 2,actuates the switch 15 through its arm 16, closing the circuit of themotor 3|, for driving the apron 5 caused by the abrupt type conveyerbelt 29, through a magnetic switch 8|. The starting of the motor 3| isdelayed by time delay relay 82 for a predetermined interval, in orderthat the swing of the tramway carrier 3, halt of the carriage 2, may beretarded.

As before stated, the rearward swing of the ramway carrier 3 will permitit to come in contact with the flattened portion 4| on the diagonallyupward extension 40 of the tilting plate 39, over which it has justpassed, and the impact will cause the pivoted latch 5 to seat in thelatches 8 and thus assure the closure of the door 4. The movement of theapron type conveyer belt 29 on 3 the rolls 28, put in motion by themotor 3| moves the material to be conveyed from the bin 23 and into itsdischarge chute 24, from which it drops into the carrier 3. Thespring-mounted track section I9 is gradually depressed against theresistance of the spring I! as the carrier is loaded,

and finally the plunger 35, which is adjustably attached to the tracksection l9, engages the push-button switch 36 which is connected to thesupporting structure l5, thereby disconnecting 5 the motor 3| causingthe forward movement of the apron type conveyer belt 29 to be stopped,thus cutting off the flow of material into the carrier 3.

During the time the motor 3| for the conveyer belt 29 is actuated, adefinite time delay relay 83 is also set in operation, and will stop themotor 3| after a predetermined interval which is, in practice, a fewseconds longer than the actual time required for loading the carrier 3.This operation eliminates excessive spillage from the conveyer belt 29in the event that the push-button switch 36 fails to function when thecarrier 3 is fully loaded.

If, for any reason, the door 4 of the carrier was not closed when thecarriage 2 came to rest on the spring-mounted track section l9, and thematerial being loaded escapes therethrough, it will fall into thespillage tray 41 on the tilting table 45, and cause the latter todepress the pushbutton switch which will disconnect the motor 3! andcause the conveyer belt 29 to stop.

After the motor 3| is stopped, the subsequent action of the loadedcarrier 3 and carriage 2 is controlled by the automatic bucket spacingmechanism as described in United States Patent No. 1,760,077, which ingeneral is as follows: At the proper time interval the circuit to thethrustor motor 10 is closed, through a magnetic switch 80, by the limitswitch 19 which is operated by a cam mounted on a sheave shaft, so as tobe rotated only when the cable A is being operated.

When the thrustor motor 10 is thus energized it causes the rod H to riseand lift the shaft 66 thereby releasing the loaded carriage 2. At thesame time the shaft 66* is lowered, thus restraining the empty carriage2 from entering on the spring-mounted track section I9 until the loadedcarriage 2 has had time to clear the track section I 9. This methodeliminates the possibility of having the empty carriage 2 run throughthe dispatcher before the shaft 66 has been lowered. When the propertime interval has elapsed the circuit to the thrustor motor 10 is brokenby the cam, mounted on the sheave shaft, thus permitting the rod H to belowered by the action of the weighted extension 68. This lowers theshaft 66 and raises the shaft 66', permitting the empty carriage 2 toenter on the track section I 9, where the loading cycle, as previouslydescribed, is repeated. The loaded carriage 2, thus released, runs bygravity from the track section l9 to the track siding l which is gradedthe proper amount to enable the speed of the carriage 2 to beaccelerated until it closely approximates the speed of the moving cableA, and is then automatically attached thereto.

An emergency push-button switch 84 is pro vided in the circuits for thecontrolling devices, and operates the motor 3| for the conveyer belt 29independently of the automatically operated devices described.

The possibility of the simultaneous operation of the motor 3|, fordriving the loading conveyer 29, and the thrustor motor 10 for releasingthe carriage in the loading station, is entirely eliminated by theinterlocking of their circuits.

It is to be understood that other means may be used for operating thevarious devices of the invention in lieu of the electrical adjuncts andoperating circuits disclosed, and that while we have shown and describedone specific embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that wedo not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of our invention, asdefined in the following claim.

We claim:

In an elevated tramway system, a loading station, a pivoted carrier, apivoted discharge door on said carrier, and means at said loadingstation for closing said discharge carrier, said means comprising apivoted table, an upward extension on one end of said pivoted table, anda weight on the other end of said pivoted table.

CLAIRE C. BEATTY. ELMER J. LLOYD.

